Dictionary
Open the dictionary to a random page. Find a word that you do not know how to define. Write an imaginary definition for it. Repeat.
Alive Writing
Discussion topic: Ask how an author can show that John is sad, that Elena is nervous, that Chang is angry without saying, "John is sad," "Elena is nervous," "Chang is angry"? Work in groups to come up with ten things that people they know do when sad, nervous, or angry. Encourage them to think beyond the obvious.
Creative writing game: "Your character has a secret." Give each student a slip of paper with a different statement about a fictional character; for example:
Creative writing game: "Your character has a secret." Give each student a slip of paper with a different statement about a fictional character; for example:
- Mayra can't cook
- Joel cheated on the test.
- Karin hates Mary.
- Nitin is afraid of his boss.
- Elena is jealous of her sister.
- Chris just kissed Sergio's girlfriend.
How Do You Do It?
In-class activity: 10-minute writing about one of the following topics:
- Your character wants to get engaged to his/her partner. His/her partner thinks things are moving too fast and wants to slow down. Your character develops a plan to push the engagement forward...
- Your character is a teenager and desperately wants to borrow his/her father's cool sportscar to go to a party. The teenager thinks this car will be the key to social success. Your character's father says that borrowing the car is out of the question. Dad loves the sportscar and is convinced that the teenager will wreck it. But the teenager is not about to give up so easily...